Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Glitch by Heather Anastasiu

Release Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Series: Glitch, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.
When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

Glitch was a gripping dystopian. I loved being sucked into this world– it was so different from other dystopians which I've read! I always love the idea of a higher power taking control over the world and then rebellion begins– and this completely exceeded my expectations! Just when I was thinking that all dystopians would generally have the same trend, this fabulous novel comes along and shines.

Zoe was a great main character, I liked her struggle to remain 'normal' and yet it was great seeing that more emotional side, and what it's like to discover brilliant colors and feelings. I must say though, her perspective was slightly inconsistent because of her switching back and forth. I was however, mainly focusing on the plot at the time I was reading this, so it didn't really interrupt my flow.
Adrien, oh Adrien. The love triangle in this book was interesting, because I did like both guys (most of the time anyway), but I loved Adrien's character. From the moment Zoe describes his eyes, I was sold.
Max was an interesting character. I liked him at times, but then sometimes I didn't, but I ended up loving the emotion range he has. To be frank, at time he annoyed me so much I was tempted to skim parts of this novel, but he's definitely an interesting twist to this story.

Speaking of twists, there's one completely mind blowing one which you'll end going WOAH at. I was (figuratively speaking) at a loss for words, my brain completely froze. I did not see it coming and it had me flipping pages, desperate to find out what happens next.

Heather Anastasiu has written a riveting book, which had me hooked from start to finish. Glitch was gloriously enthralling– one remarkable science fiction filled novel. I can't wait to read the sequel, Override!

If you like this, try...

• Pure by Julianna Baggott ● Goodreads
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver ● Goodreads

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Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown

Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Series: Lies Beneath, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans and absorb their positive energy. Usually, they select their victims at random, but this time around, the underwater clan chooses its target for a reason: revenge. They want to kill Jason Hancock, the man they blame for their mother's death.

It's going to take a concerted effort to lure the aquaphobic Hancock onto the water. Calder's job is to gain Hancock's trust by getting close to his family. Relying on his irresistible good looks and charm, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter Lily. Easy enough, but Calder screws everything up by falling in love--just as Lily starts to suspect there's more to the monster-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined, and just as the mermaids threaten to take matters into their own hands, forcing Calder to choose between them and the girl he loves.

One thing's for sure: whatever Calder decides, the outcome won't be pretty.

I fell in love with this book just by looking at it's cover. Knowing that it was about mermaids (or rather merfolk) I was determined to get my hands on it. When I did, I was taken away by the incredible descriptions and character developments throughout this novel. The plot captivated me from start to finish– it was one book I was sorry to put down, so thank goodness this is a series so I can get my hands on the sequel!

It's unfortunately rare to find a male protagonist in young adult books these days, and I was swept away by Calder. I wouldn't care if he was plotting to kill me– his descriptions drove me (insanely) crazy in love. I was falling for him every time he practically spoke. I totally get why his sisters would use him to seduce Lily... every move would drive a girl crazy.
Lily was a great love interest as well. She's really sweet, and even though I was tearing my hair out over her "hard-to-get-ness", practically screaming at her "WHY WON'T YOU JUST KISS HIM ALREADY?!", she who's really different from others... she kind of reminded me of Lena from Beautiful Creatures because of her love for that gothic feel (poetry in this case). Her sister Sophie was adorable as well.
Speaking of sisters, Calder's totally freaked me out. They're just so dang creepy. These are mermaids, but ladies and gentlemen, these mermaids don't sing "Part of Your World"... unless it's to end up killing the guy. They reminded me a lot of the killer mermaids in Lost Voices, and it even got to the point where I was having nightmares of swimming after reading this book.

There's definitely an interesting twist at the end of this book, and it's really interesting to see how this all ties up. I'm definitely pumped for book 2, Deep Betrayal!
Lies Beneath is a gorgeous novel. It was beautifully written, and enthralled me with every step of the way. Anne Greenwood Brown sure knows how to write a novel with dangerous mermaids, shocking twists, and an extremely hot guy which I couldn't stop drooling over. Seriously– look no further, because this book has got everything a reader could want.

If you like this, try...

• Of Poseidon by Anna Banks ● Goodreads
• Lost Voices by Sarah Porter ● Goodreads

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Hooked Pre-Order Contest!

Hey Everyone!

Liz Fichera, who is one of our authors apart of the Books That Glow: YA & MG 2013 event, is having an amazing pre-order contest for her upcoming book, Hooked!

Wanna win all this??

All you have to do is pre-order a copy of Hooked by 31st of December, 2012. This can be for a paperback or an ebook, and then send your proof of purchase to Liz via email.

You can stand to win a chance at this AMAZING HarlequinTeen Goodie Basket, with books from Paige Harbison, Hannah Harrington, Cayla Kluver, Carol M. Tanzman, and Katie McGarry, as well as some extra goodies!

Did I mention this contest is also open WORLDWIDE?!?!

To find out more details, check it out HERE.

The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab

The Opposite of Hallelujah by Anna Jarzab

Release Date: October 9, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Caro Mitchell considers herself an only child—and she likes it that way. After all, her much older sister, Hannah, left home eight years ago, and Caro barely remembers her. So when Caro’s parents drop the bombshell news that Hannah is returning to live with them, Caro feels as if an interloper is crashing her family. To her, Hannah’s a total stranger, someone who haunts their home with her meek and withdrawn presence, and who refuses to talk about her life and why she went away. Caro can’t understand why her parents cut her sister so much slack, and why they’re not pushing for answers.

Unable to understand Hannah, Caro resorts to telling lies about her mysterious reappearance. But when those lies alienate Caro’s new boyfriend and put her on the outs with her friends and her parents, she seeks solace from an unexpected source. And when she unearths a clue about Hannah’s past—one that could save Hannah from the dark secret that possesses her—Caro begins to see her sister in a whole new light.

The Opposite of Hallelujah was one book which took me a while to get through. I was really hesitant about reading this one, because it didn't mention that this book had slightly (and when I say slightly, I mean pretty slightly) religious tones to it, but I was glad to find that it didn't dominate the entire book. I tend to stay away from fiction which includes religion, but thankfully, this only had bits and bobs. The good thing was that Caro doesn't really find herself exposed to much of it, and really decides to distance herself from it during most of the novel. The reason why there are certain religious tones to this book comes from the fact that Caro's sister Hannah left home to join a convent and become a nun.

I really both hated and loved our main character Caro. At first she seemed all whiny and screamy and just mad mad mad all the time. She had multiple rages or tantrums and that really made me not like her at first. As the book went on, she kind of started to grow on me. She really knew or felt that Hannah was hiding something, and it's really sweet (in a total confident and just-you-try-and-stop-me way) how she goes on to find it.
Pawel was an interesting character. He's so charming, and somewhat geeky– you can't help but fall in love with him. I mean, sure, you kind of hate him in a couple of bits, but trust me, it's just one of those things in a novel that HAVE to happen.
Now Hannah– wow, what a character. I seriously don't know how one would feel after coming through some serious prayer time (except, you know, Maria from The Sound of Music) to not exactly believing in God. She definitely had her high points and lows, but it was truly interesting to see her struggles throughout this book, especially more towards the end.
The supporting characters in this were great! While I didn't like some of Caro's friends, I really thought her parents were great. I didn't hate them (her mom was borderline, but she was great throughout the novel), and Father Bob was a great minor character to this plot. He really helps Caro understand, and it's really interesting to see this exchange between a pastor and someone who doesn't really have faith in religion.

My only real problem with this book was the fact that it was so lengthy. It was SUPER long, and being around 400 pages, I found myself drifting away time to time. Some are the descriptions are gorgeous... but it at times became too descriptive and I found myself skimming through it. Other than that though, this book wasn't something that I'd expect to end up liking!

The Opposite of Hallelujah was a little hard to get into, but with a little faith (pun intended) you'll end up loving the characters and the story. Despite length issues, I enjoyed reading this book, and now wish I didn't keep putting it off. Anna Jarzab really knows how to write with the thoughts of a teen, and I can't wait to see what else she writes for YA :)

If you liked this, try...

• Everything You Need to Survive the Apocalypse by Lucas Klauss ● Goodreads
• Between Here and Forever by Elizabeth Scott ● Goodreads

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian

Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series: Burn for Burn, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: ARC
Source: Borrowed – Thanks to Riya @ The Teen Book Guru!
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

Being a huge fan of the ABC's Revenge, I totally couldn't pass this book up easily. I was attracted the plot from day one and I'm glad to say that it was a gorgeous and deliciously revenge-y collaboration by Han and Vivian. Being a fan of Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty and having heard so much about Vivian's novels, I knew that this would not disappoint.

The novel rotates around the three perspectives of our three main characters: Lillia, Kat, and Mary. While it was definitely interesting to learn about their pasts and presents piece by piece, as well as find out what happened to them that made them want vengeance for what someone had done to them, it was somewhat difficult to connect to each of them very well.
Lillia's character I loved, because even though she was almost obsessed with how she looked most of the time, presented as being a "popular" girl, she still has morals: she feels bad for people, she sometimes thinks her friend Rennie is too harsh or bitchy (hated her!), so for those reasons alone, I found her to be an interesting character. I also love how much she looks out for her sister– it was very sweet!
Boy oh boy, Kat is kick-ass. I loved her. She was so sarcastic, not afraid to fight back, and loved her confidence. She was definitely my favorite character because she did also show a weak side to her strong exterior.

Mary's part of the story however, took me a while to get. Her character seemed kind of insignificant at the beginning and I didn't really understand why she wanted revenge until halfway through the story. I felt really sorry for her, because her story is really heartbreaking, even more-so because something terrible happens to her as a child :(

Contemporary series are quite rare, I think I can only name a couple. I'm glad this is part of a trilogy, because I totally can't wait to find out what happens... especially after that hell of an ending! Burn for Burn has got your good dose of vengeance, as well as friendship, romance and secrets: Everything that an entertaining story needs. Han and Vivian make an interesting and addicting duet of words, and I can't wait for Fire with Fire!

If you like this, try...

• Speechless by Hannah Harrington ● Goodreads
• Prom Night: All the Way by Megan Stine ● Goodreads
• Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard ● Goodreads

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Release Date: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Series: The Grisha, Book 1
Rated: YA 14+
Format: eGalley
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon ● The Book Depository
Goodreads ● Website

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha…and the secrets of her heart.

GORGEOUS. 
Absolutely, and with no doubt, gorgeous.

I haven't read a fantasy in a while, and while paranormal is a nice "substitute" for the meantime, it can never really integrate the elements of high fantasy into the genre. Now, this book? Flawless. This book soared higher than my expectations. I could not put it down– I became so enthralled with the world of Ravka and the Grisha. It was riveting, captivating, and I immediately wanted more when it ended. 
Clearly, 400 pages of this book was not enough.

I loved all the characters. They were built-up so well, they were almost flesh and bone leaping off of the page. I was attached to all of them emotionally (with love and hatred!) and was gripped by each of their stories.

Alina is our main character, and she's smart, funny and sharp: she totally gets her way. However, what I liked the most about her was the fact that at the beginning of this book and during the beginnings of the Grisha training, she was really weak. Completely unlike what YA heroines are made out to be. It was so easy to relate to her because of this, and I had total respect for her during the entire novel. She makes decisions, both good and bad, and because of how connected I felt with her, I could see why she did what she did.
Mal was a frustrating yet very interesting character. Obviously, I was attracted to him as Alina was, but he annoyed me so much during the beginning–just as our MC did!– because he was just so cocky, so forward and confident that he was the absolute best at what he did. Later on though, he's so sweet and protective, and trust me, you'll fall head over heels for him!
The Darkling was truly a character like none other. I think, and agreeing with Veronica Roth's blurb on the cover of this book, he's truly "unlike anything I've ever read". He's got that charm, yet he radiates power and strikes fear into people, making them follow him. His manner towards Alina though was interesting– he actually began to treat her as an equal... and then of course, something very interesting happens. Nope, no revealing what it is, but trust me, I could see why (as I said before) she did what she did, because even if I was presented with that "choice" I would have taken it.

As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, the world of Ravka is so enticing. The whole world building descriptions of this fantasy is superbly done. I was so immersed with the beautiful and dark descriptions of this world and the Shadow Fold, and the Grisha especially. It all gives me shivers and tingles just thinking about it.
The only part I was left confused with was the ending. I had no idea what happened, or if what I thought had happened, I have no idea how the story would continue. Nonetheless, I'm still very eager to find out!

What more can I say? Shadow and Bone is one of the best reads I've read this year. I'm absolutely freaking out and dying to get my hands on the next one, because clearly my dose of Mal is not enough. Leigh Bardugo is an amazing author, and I'll be definitely be first in line to get whatever she writes.

If you liked this, try...

• Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers ● Goodreads
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer ● Goodreads
• Enchanted by Alethea Kontis ● Goodreads

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Waiting on Wednesday – Week 74

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It's to spotlight on upcoming reads which I'm DYING to get my hands on.
YES! I'm back! From my one week of no posts, and I'm telling you, I feel so guilty about it. Anyway, hopefully I'll be consistent with the rest of this week and next week should be pretty normal.

This week's WoW is:

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

**May contain spoilers if you haven't read Cinder**

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Goodreads ● February 5, 2013

This would be the perfect birthday present for me, since it's coming out a couple days before it! Of course, I can't WAIT to get my hands on this book because 1) Cinder was just mind-blowingly awesome-tastical gorgeousness which was captured on paper and 2) The cover matches so perfectly with the first book (and the third and fourth BETTER not change -.-) and 3) 3 words: Red. Riding. Hood.

What are you waiting on?